Alkyd paints and coatings.

Alkyd paints and coatings are part of the products used extensively in the marine environment for coating marine equipment protecting the equipment from hash effects of weather and water, they are a type of oil based paint. They can be used as a primer, undercoat and topcoat.

Oxidative curing alkyd coatings sometimes referred to as “oil-based coatings” or oleoresins have been in use in one form or another for thousands of years. They cure by air oxidation when oxygen from the air reacts with unsaturated fatty acids in their drying oils. By this reaction, liquid resins are converted to solid films. Modern day alkyds are typically a combination of natural drying oils and synthetic resins. A beneficial feature of alkyds is that they are single package and are easy to apply with low cost equipment. A negative feature is that they can be very slow to cure.

Two examples of alkyd based paints are:

Alkyd primer - are primer for use above the waterline on steel or existing paintwork (provided that the paint is in good condition- remember if the underlying paint flakes off it is going to take your lovely new finish with it). Alkydprimer can also be used as a topcoat if a matt finish is required.

Alkyd Topcoat paints are topcoat that can be applied directly on to existing oil based paint or over a suitable primer. Pilot II produces a high gloss finish and it is available in virtually any colour. It is for use above the waterline only.

Alkyd paints are also known as oxidative paints because they react with oxygen to form a hard enamel film. This reaction can take a long time (in some cases several months) and so when applying alkyd paints it is important that they are not applied to thickly. Several thin coats are much preferable than one thick one. The long drying time means they can be applied easily by hand. On the plus side they are relatively inexpensive, but their gloss and colour retention is poor compared with 2 pack polyurethane topcoats.

Modified alkyd paints have been around for many years and although the more modern topcoats provide a more durable finish the ease of application and the reduced cost mean that alkyd paints aren't going anywhere fast.

Areas of concern on the application of alkyd coatings:

• Need to know the specific type of alkyd resin being used and follow the manufacturer’s recommended curing times and over-coat information
• Very important to watch for excessive film build
• When an alkyd coatings are used as a shop primer for industrial equipment it may be necessary to remove them prior to applying a two component overcoat
• Alkyd coatings are not normally compatible with concrete or zinc-based materials.

Benefits of Alkyd Paint

Alkyd paints are durable and resistant to wear-and-tear. These paints are widely preferred for high traffic areas in a home such as hallways and play rooms for children. Also, these paints are resistant to humidity and moisture. As a result, they are good choices for kitchens, bathrooms and also cabinets and furniture. The lustrous finish is also resistant to stains. The paint can be wiped down for easy cleaning. Stains are not absorbed easily and discoloration does not set in. The paint retains a uniform sheen for a long time.Alkyd paints can also often be used in Marine environment

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